Man U hope mega deal for Ronaldo will neutralise Real Madrid's bid

Published: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 12:38 [IST]

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London, Mar.1 (ANI): Manchester United are to offer Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo an incredible new recession-busting deal which will make him the Premier League's first 200,000-pound-a-week player, and hopefully prevent Spanish football club Real Madrid from making a renewed bid for him.nited are hoping the record 10.4 million-pound a year contract will stop the Portuguese winger from joining Real Madrid.

Ronaldo still has three years left on his existing 120,000-pound a week deal, but a FIFA ruling means he can buy himself out of his contract at the end of next season.

According to The Sun, chiefs at Old Trafford have plans to offer him a basic weekly wage of 160,000 pounds plus an extra 40,000 pounds for image rights and commercial activities to keep him out of the Spanish champions' clutches.

Spanish sources claim Ronaldo has a verbal agreement to move to Real this summer. But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted: "There is no question of Ronaldo leaving."

A Portuguese source close to the player added: "Cristiano wants to clear his head of the Real Madrid move once and for all. When he agreed to stay at United last summer he thought it would be just for one more year.

"But now he seems to be setting his mind on the long term because he realises he can fulfil all his ambitions at Old Trafford." he new offer will add another two years to his existing agreement which expires in 2012. And that will tie the reigning World Player of the Year to the Premier League and European champions until 2014.

It will also dwarf teammate Wayne Rooney's 115,000-pounds a week wages, England skipper John Terry's 135,000 pounds at Chelsea, Robinho's 160,000 pounds at Manchester City and Steven Gerrard's 120,000 pounds at Liverpool.

Away from Ronaldo, Manchester United and Real Madrid are locked in a bidding war for Wigan winger Antonio Valencia. And that could push the price for the Ecuador international, 23, past the 20 million pound mark. (ANI)